Cruise records continue to be smashed

The record-breaking attendance of 850 agents at last week’s Clia Conference in Southampton was just the latest landmark for a sector which is making a habit of smashing through its targets.

Official statistics show 34.6 million people cruised globally last year, with that figure predicted to increase to 42 million by 2028.

And compared to 40 years ago, when there were just 1.9 million cruisers and 97% of those were from the US, the sector is now an increasingly international affair, with about half of cruisers coming from other source markets and the UK and Germany vying for second place.

Importantly, according to Clia’s latest SPI survey, which measures sentiment, perception and intent across the world’s top-nine source markets, 82% of customers who have cruised will do so again, 68% are open to trying a new cruise experience and 71% are likely or very likely to book a cruise in the next two years.

All these statistics will have been music to the ears of attendees, particularly the 60% who had never been to a Clia Conference before and the 23% whose first opportunity to set foot on a cruise ship was to pick between no less than seven available to tour during the event.

With Clia in the UK reporting a 10% increase in individual members, a 5% increase in agency members and an 11% increase in accredited learners last year, the signs bode well that the UK market will continue to keep pace with global projections and become an even greater contributor to those record-breaking numbers in years to come.

Comment originally from Travel Weekly, May 28 edition